The CBSO Young Voices

Hi Guys!

Sorry about the lack of blogging lately. Things have been quite rocky lately and I really haven’t had chance to keep you all updated – still, just got to grit your teeth and get on sometimes.

So I’ve started getting my marks back from my essays (dread). Considering I hadn’t written academically since my exams back in May, I was quite surprised to see 68% appearing on my essay. Hurrah! Here’s hoping I get back into a stride and start getting my firsts now =]

On a side note, plenty of commuting the next couple of weeks! My old youth chorus, The CBSO Young Voices, have asked the alumni to come back for the Christmas Concerts in Symphony Hall, and honestly this couldn’t have come at a better time. Really needed something like this as a ‘pick-me-up’.

I have one more portfolio to hand in before going home for Christmas, and it is on Development – works out to 2500 words. I don’t think I’ve ever written so much about child psychology, but once the Christmas holidays are done we move on to social psychology. Much more my cup of tea.

Anyways, that is enough rambling – now to finish this portfolio!

Ciao for now x

Sports, Stats and Social Psychology

Eyup :)

So, by the looks of things, second year has really kicked in. I've submitted my first essay of the year (the evolution of intelligence) and my first lab report. It’s amazing how fast I've forgotten how to use SPSS over the summer, but I’m quite surprised at how readily I've picked it up again.

We've had our portfolio work assigned for two modules, Developmental & Social Psychology and Individual Difference. As it turns out, they are both asking for a couple of shorter essays (500 words) and a CV. A couple of us have started going to the library at the same time each week so we can get it done – and to be honest I’m enjoying the work in developmental a great deal more than I thought I would. We’re doing all sorts of stuff, from how babies respond to monkey calls to adolescence.

While I am going on fewer nights out because of the work, I have made an effort to get involved in societies! As I’ve said before, I’m an active member of LGBT, so lots of socials and society meetings for that. I’m branching out into sports though, which isn't like me! This week I've joined the Judo Society (http://www.suug.co.uk/sports/judo/), so I will be donning my Gi and getting back onto the mat after a couple of years out. Back to white belt for me!

On a side note, we have an Open Day coming up! It’s on Saturday 23^rd of November, and is across all three campuses. There will be staff on hand to talk to about course options, campus and accommodation tours, and plenty of current students (including me!) to talk to about what life is like here.  So if you get the chance, feel free to book a place on the Open Day online, or pop down on the day.

Ciao for now! 

Spaghetti Western in the West End

Hi Guys – just checking in again!

Over the last week I've had a couple of changes of heart. However, they are all about my costume for Thursday night, along with where we all plan to end up. So If you happen to see a cowboy wandering around the West End, chances are it’ll be me J - might be my last night of letting my hair down for this week, as it looks like I’m going to be a busy bee over the next couple of weeks. Had a couple of essays and a lab report assigned, and due in November, so it feels a bit like second year is really kicking in.

On the plus side, not going out as much will give me chance to save for my next holiday! I've managed to pester my partner and my flatmates into heading to Italy with me – just got to sort out a short space of time where we are all free, which will be the most difficult part. Then off on a European adventure. I've wanted to see parts of Italy for as far back as I can remember, and seeing it with some of my best mates here can only improve the situation.

On an unrelated note, I’m still getting used to this blogging thing. Turns out that I can talk a lot more than I thought though (I’m sure my flatmates would agree with that…). So as I was new to it, I thought it would be a wise idea to look at some other blogs so I could get an idea of what to write. Three hours later, and I was sifting through Mean Girls GIFs on Tumblr. Oops!

Adventure Time!

So, second year has started, and it sort of feels like I haven’t been away (but in the good way!). I've decided that this year I’m going to get more involved, as I didn't do as much as I could have last year...awkward. So I’m looking into volunteer placements at the moment, and I've joined the LGBT society (http://www.suug.co.uk/organisation/LGBT/). Busy times!

Anyways, it’s nearly Halloween – always a fun time to be at university, and always a fun time to live in London, as there is so much going on! The kitchen has been decorated, and my flatmates and I are starting to talk about what we want to do, finally! Looks as though we are doing standard Halloween and either going to Sparrows in onesies, or venturing into Central London for the evening, so that should be a laugh. However, I've come to the conclusion that I am far too short to get away with a scary costume, unless I dress as a doll or something, so I may well be going out as Finn from Adventure Time (see, the title makes sense now!) or Ash from Pokémon, which is always a solid choice.

So, on to work. This year the modules on my course seem much more specific. I’m studying Developmental and Social Psychology, Individual Difference, Research Methods and Brain, Behaviour and Cognition. All sounds pretty scary, but as long as I keep focused on it I’m sure I’ll be alright. The seminars seem much more discussion based than last year, which I’m rather enjoying. I've also gotten to know a fair few people in each seminar group over the last year, so I’m getting more and more confident at this talking in front of people thing!

So, all in all I’m enjoying every aspect of the year so far and assuming I stay focused, I should do well…

… assuming I don’t get distracted by the new episodes of Made in Chelsea. Drama!